Bioenergy conference takes place in Ireland

A conference exploring the latest developments in the bioenergy industry has taken place in County Offaly.

Jointly organised by the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc) and the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA), the event focused on how the bioenergy supply chain could be made to work better in the country.

National and international speakers discussed how best to improve success in the biomass energy sectors. Delegates were also told about applicable regulations and the support schemes now available.

President of IrBEA, Vicky Heslop, commented: "Now is a really exciting time in the industry with new and promising opportunities continuously emerging."

At the opening of the event, Mary Wallace, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, added that bioenergy could become a "sustainable reality".

She concluded: "Bioenergy has an important role to play in meeting the challenges that lie ahead. It is a clean, renewable source of energy and with our abundant resources in Ireland we have great potential to produce bioenergy.

"Ultimately, the industry can only develop in Ireland if it is profitable for the raw material supplier, processors and investors alike."